Quaife
Encyclopedia
R.T. Quaife Engineering, Ltd. is a British manufacturer of automotive drivetrain
products. It designs and manufactures replacement gearboxes and gear sets, some of which are for four-wheel drive
systems.
Quaife's signature product is its line of automatic torque biasing differentials, a form of limited slip differential
s that employ helical gears rather than clutch mechanisms that are controlled either mechanically or by computers. These differentials are usually available as aftermarket
items, but for some models are specified by automobile manufacturers as OEM
equipment.
Quaife has also briefly built complete road cars, with the R4 GTS in 1999 which also competed in the British GT Championship
. The company is currently working on the R40.
The company was founded in 1965 by Rod Quaife and now run and owned by Michael Quaife (Technical Director) and his sister Sharon Quaife-Hobbs (Financial Director). Rod's son, Phil Quaife
and Sharon's son Adrian Quaife-Hobbs
are both professional racing drivers.
Based near Sevenoaks
, Kent they have two sites, one in Sevenoaks and the other in Gillingham
.
Srt-4 was updated a torque-sensing Quaife limited-slip differential.
The 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Turbocharged features an optional Quaife ATB Limited Slip Differential and revised suspension geometry to reduce torque steer.
Ford has announced that the new Ford Focus RS will also use a Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing LSD together with special front suspension geometry to minimize torque steer.
Powertrain
In a motor vehicle, the term powertrain or powerplant refers to the group of components that generate power and deliver it to the road surface, water, or air. This includes the engine, transmission, drive shafts, differentials, and the final drive...
products. It designs and manufactures replacement gearboxes and gear sets, some of which are for four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
systems.
Quaife's signature product is its line of automatic torque biasing differentials, a form of limited slip differential
Limited slip differential
A limited slip differential is a type of differential gear arrangement that allows for some difference in angular velocity of the output shafts, but imposes a mechanical bound on the disparity...
s that employ helical gears rather than clutch mechanisms that are controlled either mechanically or by computers. These differentials are usually available as aftermarket
Aftermarket (automotive)
The automotive aftermarket is the secondary market of the automotive industry, concerned with the manufacturing, remanufacturing, distribution, retailing, and installation of all vehicle parts, chemicals, tools, equipment and accessories for light and heavy vehicles, after the sale of the...
items, but for some models are specified by automobile manufacturers as OEM
Original Equipment Manufacturer
An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components that are purchased by a company and retailed under that purchasing company's brand name. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product. When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a...
equipment.
Quaife has also briefly built complete road cars, with the R4 GTS in 1999 which also competed in the British GT Championship
British GT Championship
The Avon Tyres British GT Championship is a sports car racing series currently based in the United Kingdom, although they have had select races outside of Britain in the past few years. The series was created by the British Racing Drivers' Club in 1993 and for its first two seasons was called the...
. The company is currently working on the R40.
The company was founded in 1965 by Rod Quaife and now run and owned by Michael Quaife (Technical Director) and his sister Sharon Quaife-Hobbs (Financial Director). Rod's son, Phil Quaife
Phil Quaife
Phil Quaife is an English racing driver currently competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB for Jota Sport and in the FIA GT3 European Championship in Apex Motorsport's Jaguar XKR.-Career:...
and Sharon's son Adrian Quaife-Hobbs
Adrian Quaife-Hobbs
Adrian Rodney Quaife-Hobbs is a British race car driver, notable for being the youngest driver to win the T Cars championship and the youngest ever winner of an MSA-sanctioned car racing series...
are both professional racing drivers.
Based near Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks is a commuter town situated on the London fringe of west Kent, England, some 20 miles south-east of Charing Cross, on one of the principal commuter rail lines from the capital...
, Kent they have two sites, one in Sevenoaks and the other in Gillingham
Gillingham, Kent
Gillingham is a town in the unitary authority of Medway in South East England. It is part of the ceremonial county of Kent. The town includes the settlements of Brompton, Hempstead, Rainham, Rainham Mark and Twydall....
.
Applications
The 2004 DodgeDodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
Srt-4 was updated a torque-sensing Quaife limited-slip differential.
The 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Turbocharged features an optional Quaife ATB Limited Slip Differential and revised suspension geometry to reduce torque steer.
Ford has announced that the new Ford Focus RS will also use a Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing LSD together with special front suspension geometry to minimize torque steer.